Richard Thomas (Pennsylvania politician)

For other people with the same name, see Richard Thomas (disambiguation).

Richard Thomas
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district
In office
March 4, 1795 to March 3, 1801
Preceded bysee below
Succeeded byJoseph Hemphill
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 9th district
In office
1791–1793
Preceded bydistrict created
Personal details
BornDecember 30, 1744
West Whiteland Township, Province of Pennsylvania, British America
DiedJanuary 19, 1832(1832-01-19) (aged 87)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyFederalist

Richard Thomas (December 30, 1744 – January 19, 1832) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Federalist member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district from 1795 to 1801. He also served in the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 9th Senatorial District from 1791 to 1793.

Early life and education

Thomas was born in West Whiteland Township in the Province of Pennsylvania and was educated at home by private teachers. He served in the American Revolutionary War as colonel of the First Regiment, Chester County Volunteers of the Pennsylvania militia.[1] He was of Welsh and English descent.[2]

Career

Thomas became a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1771[3] and was later elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 9th Senatorial District serving from 1791 to 1793.[1]

In 1793, he was appointed a brigadier-general of militia by Governor Thomas Mifflin but declined to accept the role.[4]

He was elected as a Federalist to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1795 to March 3, 1801.[5] He engaged in agricultural pursuits and constructed Ivy Cottage, Whitford Lodge, and Whitford Hall in West Whiteland Township.

Thomas died in Philadelphia in 1832 and is buried at the Friends Western Burial Ground in Philadelphia.

Personal life

Thomas married Thomazine Downing, grand-daughter of Thomas Downing, founder of Downingtown, Pennsylvania.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Richard Thomas". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  2. ^ Welsh Founders of Pennsylvania.
  3. ^ "APS Member History".
  4. ^ Futhey, James Smith (1881). History of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts. p. 742. Retrieved December 22, 2018. richard thomas pennsylvania.
  5. ^ Ashmeade, Henry Graham (1884). History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co. p. 272. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  6. ^ Browning, Charles Henry (1912). Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: William J. Campbell. p. 211. ISBN 9780608363837. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district
1795–1801 		Succeeded by
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by
district created
 Member of the Pennsylvania Senate 9th District
1791-1793 		Succeeded by
William Ross